Washington (CNN) – Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin hit back Thursday against Sen. Mark Begich after the Democratic senator, also from Alaska, argued Palin had lost touch with the values of their state.

"Really, Mark? Really?" she wrote on her Facebook page.
"Margaret Thatcher used to say, 'I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.' So, thank you, Mark Begich, for making me and others exceptionally cheery today," she added.

Speaking to CNN and Politico on Wednesday, the day after Palin said she had contemplated a challenge against Begich for his Senate seat next year, Begich questioned whether the former governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee still has enough of a connection to Alaska and its residents.

"I know she doesn't spend a lot of time in Alaska," Begich told CNN congressional producer Alan Silverleib. "I go back to Alaska a lot. I spend a lot of time in Alaska and I don't see her. She'll have to figure that out."

Also a problem, Begich said, was Palin's 2009 decision to step down as governor before her term was complete, a choice she said at the time was made due to the time and money spent on a litany of ethics complaints against her. She said then the complaints were without merit and took away from the job she wanted to do for Alaskans.

But Begich argued Wednesday the decision to depart the governorship midway cut against his state's values.

"One thing Alaskans pride themselves on is that no matter how tough it gets, not matter how tough the issues are, we stick with it through the end," Begich said. "And I think Alaskans know that she quit midway through her term. And that's the thing that sticks in people's minds."

"I think Alaskans understand that quitting midstream is not the Alaska way," he continued.

For her part, Palin took aim at Begich's voting record, faulting him for siding with Obamacare and linking the conservative Democrat with more liberal lawmakers in his party like Senate Harry Reid and Sen. Chuck Schumer.

She argued Begich was going on the attack in order to distract from "yet another bad vote for Alaska in the U.S. Senate."

It "gives us good opportunity to remind Alaskans just how loyal to the Obama agenda you have been," she wrote.

Begich, a former mayor of Anchorage, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008. He defeated longtime GOP Sen. Ted Stevens, who died in a 2010 plane crash.

The 2014 race is labeled "lean Democratic" on the Cook Political Report, and the Rothenberg Political Report rates the race as toss up/tilt Democrat. Both are non-partisan political handicappers. Alaska Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell and Joe Miller, a Republican who lost a U.S. Senate bid in Alaska in 2010, have both said they'll run against Begich next year.

Speaking to conservative radio host Sean Hannity Tuesday, Palin blasted Begich as a pawn of national Democrats who wasn't listening to voters in Alaska.

But the Democrat pushed back on that allegation, pointing to the heat he's taking from some in his party for votes on gun control and energy production.

"I represent Alaska. And when Alaskans walk into the voting booth, they pick who they think they'll represent them best," he said.

But when it comes to potentially facing Palin next year, Begich said he's not discounting any rival.

"Something I've learned in my life, running for different offices, I ran for mayor and ran for Senate, I take everyone seriously," he said. "It doesn't matter who they are, where they come from, and how much money that have in the bank, their campaign. The unique thing about Alaska politics is that everyone is a contender."

soundoff(33 Responses)

Malory Archer

His words weren't a "personal attack". They were TRUE! That it hurts so much is her problem.

July 11, 2013 11:07 am at 11:07 am |

Malory Archer

A True Conservative

Wow – so many people see her as simple and stupid. They ask that CNN stop reporting on her, yet they take the time to open the article and comment. Seems a bit foolish of them to me....but about what I expect from the left.....

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As you stated in your meaningless rant, we log onto stories about her to ask that CNN stop reporting on her. Considering she's a nothing more than a broken clock on the wall with nothing to say, why is that so foolish?

On a side note, please also go through the motions again, make your PAC account nice and fat again and then come up with some reason why you cannot commit. It's what grifters do after all.

July 11, 2013 11:17 am at 11:17 am |

Lynda/Minnesota

@Rudy and @Data

Oh, I too suspect Rudy is correct. I just needed a bit of $arah venting. Thanks for listening, and (I hope) understanding. And, yes. I agree with you as well. The Sarah Palin downside for Republicans is well worth her every screech.

Let the headaches begin ....

July 11, 2013 11:18 am at 11:18 am |

Thomas

This is what happens when Mama Moose eats tooo many moose berries !

She calls Sean Hannity to shovel moose poop with a spoon .

The American Condition / Celebrity

July 11, 2013 11:23 am at 11:23 am |

ST

CNN listen this: you are the one who is making fool of yourself and trying to make all of us your followers to fall into this stupidness. Have you ever seen any candidate who behaves this way like what Sarah is doing, if at all she is serious on her endeavour? Can you CNN please, be serious in your job as we expect you to be?

July 11, 2013 11:23 am at 11:23 am |

Ray E. (Georgia)

Careful there Folks,
You think that is Sarah Palin. Not So! That is actually Mammy Yokum. And there's nobody tougher than Mammy Yokum! Now who (Prey Tell), is Mark Begich??

July 11, 2013 11:27 am at 11:27 am |

Jeff in Virginia

CNN- can you please top helping Sarah Palin to scam the American public? She has a new book to sell. She will obviously not be running for Senate.